I commissioned the wonderful
CadmiumTea for this one. Thanks so much, Cad!
---
Now here's a bit of fun! We're all familiar with Gale and Gloria, but it's quite possible that a Forest dweller may never have seen an aquatic dragon who isn't a member of a Pair. Or a male of the species, for that matter. Well, here's an example of both!
The Forest is a popular tourist destination for many sorts of folks, anthro and non, and this gentleman is here on vacation! He's a bit busy taking a dip in a local lake, but I don't think he'll mind serving as an example during his swim.
While the Pairing of twins is the most commonly cited unique thing about aquatic dragons, it's not the only bit of interesting biology they have! They're fairly sexually dimorphic, and the major differences are easy to see at a glance. Male aquatic dragons have much smaller crests and frills than their watery sisters, and their bodies are smaller overall—on average perhaps 75% the size—and often more sleek and slim as well. While patterns vary a bit between individuals, their coloration tends to be darker, with patches of black and dark blue about their extremities, especially their frills and faces. Don't overlook those barbles while considering all the other differences, either!
Long, long ago, way back in the shadowy history before the dawn of intelligence, aquatic dragons were social animals. Like many instinct-driven dimorphic critters, their behaviors were often strongly affected by sex, with males much more likely to hunt for and return food to their packs. However, with their primary food source being waterborne, it was advantageous for the hunters to be light and quick in the water, with small bodies, compact muscles, and extra sensory organs to aid in guiding their mouths to the strike. Females, meanwhile, could afford to have larger, slower bodies to defend communal sites from scavengers and other predators. Sacrificing speed for strength, female aquatic dragons might not be as suited to catching fish, but it was the extremely rare intruder who could get through one to reach a nesting area. Their much larger crests made for impressive threat displays, too!
In our present time, well into the age of reason, modern aquatic dragons no longer need concern themselves with the behavioral habits of their ancestors. Their physical differences remain, but their culture views them (along with Pairing) as all part of the grand diversity of life and experience. With their unusual biology, aquatic dragons appreciate better than most that life would be awfully boring if we were all the same, and that our differences can be celebrated and shared without deciding our fates.
CadmiumTea for this one. Thanks so much, Cad!---
Now here's a bit of fun! We're all familiar with Gale and Gloria, but it's quite possible that a Forest dweller may never have seen an aquatic dragon who isn't a member of a Pair. Or a male of the species, for that matter. Well, here's an example of both!
The Forest is a popular tourist destination for many sorts of folks, anthro and non, and this gentleman is here on vacation! He's a bit busy taking a dip in a local lake, but I don't think he'll mind serving as an example during his swim.
While the Pairing of twins is the most commonly cited unique thing about aquatic dragons, it's not the only bit of interesting biology they have! They're fairly sexually dimorphic, and the major differences are easy to see at a glance. Male aquatic dragons have much smaller crests and frills than their watery sisters, and their bodies are smaller overall—on average perhaps 75% the size—and often more sleek and slim as well. While patterns vary a bit between individuals, their coloration tends to be darker, with patches of black and dark blue about their extremities, especially their frills and faces. Don't overlook those barbles while considering all the other differences, either!
Long, long ago, way back in the shadowy history before the dawn of intelligence, aquatic dragons were social animals. Like many instinct-driven dimorphic critters, their behaviors were often strongly affected by sex, with males much more likely to hunt for and return food to their packs. However, with their primary food source being waterborne, it was advantageous for the hunters to be light and quick in the water, with small bodies, compact muscles, and extra sensory organs to aid in guiding their mouths to the strike. Females, meanwhile, could afford to have larger, slower bodies to defend communal sites from scavengers and other predators. Sacrificing speed for strength, female aquatic dragons might not be as suited to catching fish, but it was the extremely rare intruder who could get through one to reach a nesting area. Their much larger crests made for impressive threat displays, too!
In our present time, well into the age of reason, modern aquatic dragons no longer need concern themselves with the behavioral habits of their ancestors. Their physical differences remain, but their culture views them (along with Pairing) as all part of the grand diversity of life and experience. With their unusual biology, aquatic dragons appreciate better than most that life would be awfully boring if we were all the same, and that our differences can be celebrated and shared without deciding our fates.
Category All / All
Species Dragon (Other)
Size 2500 x 1871px
File Size 1.56 MB
Listed in Folders
The instant I saw the thumbnail I knew exactly what this was - a non-paired male from Gale and Gloria's species. I love how you designed him, being both distinct from the females yet very clearly still the same species.
Here's hoping we'll get to see him at some point with a certain female pair. ;)
Here's hoping we'll get to see him at some point with a certain female pair. ;)
Oh gosh, I don't think I could ask for a better response! That's exactly the result I was hoping for, so great success. I'm so glad that you like the design, too! CadmiumTea and I worked together on it, particularly for the color changes, and I'm ever so grateful for his help. I shouldn't be left unsupervised with a color palette. ^_~
You never know! I intended this guy to be a one-off to show off the males of the species, but it could happen! I do pity the poor artist I would try to talk into drawing three individuals worth of aquatic dragon crests, though.
You never know! I intended this guy to be a one-off to show off the males of the species, but it could happen! I do pity the poor artist I would try to talk into drawing three individuals worth of aquatic dragon crests, though.
FA+

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